Óglaigh na hÉireann claims responsibility for shooting

November 18, 2013

Dissident dissident republican group Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH) has claimed responsibility for the recent paramilitary-style shooting near Cullyhanna, in which a man in his forties was shot in both legs.

The attack occurred on Tuesday 5th November when several armed and masked men forced their way into the victim’s Drummond Road home. He was beaten around the head with a hammer before being shot. A number of family members were in the house at the time and, although uninjured, were left traumatised.

The man, who is well-known and respected in the local area, was taken to Daisy Hill hospital before being transferred to the Royal Victoria in Belfast for specialist treatment.

In a statement released using a recognized codeword, ONH said its ‘south Armagh Brigade’ was responsible, claiming the attack was ‘a measured response against this individual by the organisation’.

It accused the man of placing ‘the lives of volunteers at risk of death or capture as well as risking the capture of equipment belonging to the organization’.

“The IRA will in a calm and thought-out way, at a time of its own choosing, take whatever appropriate action is needed,” the statement said.

The attack has been condemned by local political representatives. The MP for the area, Conor Murphy, blamed a gang of thugs: “This was a disgraceful attack on a man in his own home in the presence of his family members. The widely held belief of people in this area is that this attack was perpetrated by a gang of thugs,” he said.

SDLP MLA, Dominic Bradley, says nothing can justify the use of violence adding that the shooting ‘only serves to illustrate the obscenity of this type of behavior’.

“The people of Ireland have made clear their opposition to this type of action and those responsible should heed their will and desist. Once again I ask anyone who can help the PSNI to apprehend the culprits to come forward with any information which they may have,” he said.